p4 diff

Synopsis

Syntax

Description

This command takes a file argument, which can contain a revision specifier. If a revision specifier is included, the client will be diffed against the specified revision. If a revision specifier is not included, the client workspace file will be compared against the revision currently being edited (usually the head revision). In either case, the client file must be open for edit, or the comparison must be against a revision other than the one to which the client file was last synced.

If the file argument includes wildcards, all open files that match the file pattern will be diffed. If no file argument is provided, all open files will be diffed against their depot counterparts.

By default, the diff routine used is the one provided with the Perforce client. You can change this diff routine to any other diff program by setting the P4DIFF environment or registry variable.

Options

-f	Force the diff, even when the client file is not open for edit.
-dflag	Pass flag flag to the underlying diff routine (see the Examples below for details)
-sa	Diff only open files that are different from the revision in the depot, or are missing.
-sd	Diff only unopened files that are missing on the client.
-se	Diff only unopened files that are different than the revision in the depot.
-sr	Diff only opened files that are identical to the revision in the depot.
-t	Diff the revisions even if the files are not of type text.
g_opts	See the Global Options section.

Usage Notes

Can File Arguments Use Revision Specifier?	Can File Arguments Use Revision Range?	Minimal Access Level Required
Yes	No	read

Examples

p4 diff foo#5	Compare the open client workspace revision of file foo to the fifth depot revision.
p4 diff @1999/05/22	Compare all open files in the client workspace to the revisions in the depot as of midnight on May 22, 1999.
p4 diff -du foo	Run the comparison on file foo, passing the -u flag to the underlying diff routine
p4 diff -d-brief foo	Run the comparison on file foo, passing the --brief flag to the underlying diff routine
p4 diff -sr | p4 -x - revert	Revert all open, unchanged files. The first command lists all unchanged files; the second command reverts that list. (This is the UNIX version of this command; it uses a pipe. Most operating systems have some equivalent way of performing these operations in series).

Related Commands

To compare two depot revisions	p4 diff2
To view the entire contents of a file	p4 print